ok...I haven't really driven my car that hard yet as I am trying to honor the break in period ( dont flame on that ). Anyway, I have noticed on a few somewhat aggressive acceleration runs, on the shift from 1st to 2nd made quickly the VDC or TCS kicks in at the slightest chirp and sends me into the steering wheel with the reduction of forward movement. This is starting to get annoying. I am wondering is this system a little over sensitive, or do these cars have lousy rear end grip or what? I am maybe getting to 6k RPM..not being overly agressive yet. I know the VDC has kept me straight a few times I got a little to throttle happy making a turn, so as I learn the car, I think its best if I keep it on and not become a thread of another wrecked Z. I gues technology is good sometimes, but not all the time? Anyone else notice or experience this? mine is an 07 Touring 6sp by the way.

Jaret

 

Just turn it off before you go WOT.. Problem solved..

 

Even the slightest "chirp" of the rear tire will normally cause TCS to activate. The first six or so months I had my Z, I was regularly chirping the rears. After a while, I realized that I was shifting too agressively and learned to shift smoothly to avoid it. In the long run, I'm sure my transmission and drive train will be better off for it.

 

I'm gonna have to take a wild guess and say that you're doing a little more than "chirping" if you're hitting 6K. Mine kicked in at a whole lot less than that today on wet pavement. I was doing a Uey when it kicked in. It kept me from spinning the car though.

 

“Chirp” (to me) means a loss of traction, and that’s when the Z’s TCS/VDC goes to work.

So the question is why you get that “chirp.”

- Worn tires?
- Tires with inadequate grip (tread or width) to match your driving style?
- Inadequate LSD or no LSD?

--Spike

 

I wonder what drivers did before VDC? Must have been cheating death every day.

 

+1 , if it comes on , guess what ..... It broke traction.

 

Seriously though, the TCS works pretty well, first sign of tire slippage and it takes it away. Though I often forget to turn it off when I want to play a lil. As for the VDC, I dunno, I don't have it.

 

Apparently the automobile insurance industry agrees with your question/statement (albeit somewhat sarcastic).

Notice you receive a generous discount on your policy when your car has a “stability control” feature (specifically VDC on the Z). Insurance companies operate off actuarial tables and set rates by analyzing statistical data, so these stability control features must work. You wouldn’t get a discount if they didn’t reduce accidents.

--Spike

 

I would say , they have a better respect for their car.

 

base is better

 

You may think this is bad advice (maybe it is) but, don't try pushing your car fast into a turn with it on.

I made this mistake going into a turn just a little too fast, car THOUGHT i was spinning and shut the power down, almost killed me.

 

If you're doing agressive runs, turn it off...

Any slippage will cause the car to fall on its face, turn it off so that you will be slippping the tires but you will still be moving and it will catch and put you back in your seat.

 

Yes, IMO, The Z's VDC is waytoo touchy. My 97 m3 let me get away with much more "fun" without stepping in. In fact, with the PS2 tires on the M3, I never had it kick in when it was dry. (came on all the time with crappy kumho tires)

The M seemed to know when you were in control. Even if with a little powe-induced oversteer, around a corner, it would be OK. But with crappy tires, it was esy to get it to some on.

The Z's VDC pissses me off. You can be pulling out onto a street from a parking lot and the slightest wheel movement will kill all your power. it's dangersously intrusive if you ask me.

 

If you changed your wheels, you should check the sizes. Search for other posts here - there's lots of info.

 

VDC/TCS problems almost always involve overall diameter and are fixed by simply installing correctly sized tires.

--Spike